** The TBA Committee met at the TBA on Tuesday September14th from 3.30pm. PARTICIPATING : J Rhodes (Chair), M Gibbs, S Edler, S Falkingham, I Bailey R Giles, J Grosvenor, K Marsden, E Gee, L Cooke The following matters were discussed:

David Robinson Lessons - October

David Robinson will conduct a series of six lessons for which will be suitable for improvers and above. You will need a reasonably sound grasp of bridge concepts to benefit from these. If you are absolute beginner, better to wait another year before tackling these. You can attend one or all of them, just turn up at 2.00pm from Wednesday October 6th.

Wednesday October 6th 2.00pm : Basic Mechanics Wednesday October 13th 2.00pm : Signals, Switches and Echoes Wednesday October 20th 2.00pm : Intelligent Discards Wednesday October 27th 2.00pm : Lead Directing Doubles Wednesday November 3rd 2.00pm : Matching Defence to Dummy Wednesday November 10th 2.00pm : Defending with Tram Tickets

Donations and Bequests

Have you ever thought about making a donation, or leaving a bequest to the TBA? A donation or bequest is a very generous gesture which can have a positive impact on the operations of the TBA. The TBA tries to match its outgoing expenditure with its regular income. That is, income from annual membership fees and table money is used to pay ABF Affiliation and Masterpoint Fees, Directing Fees, Pianola Licence Fees, Insurance, Electricity, and all the supplies associated with running the Club. Even though the TBA is in a sound financial position, there are many extra things the TBA could do with a Donation or Bequest from a Member. Large bequests can fund capital works. Smaller bequests could fund a range of activities. For example, $ 6000 could fund a team to participate in Youth Week in Canberra in January, or fund a Tasmanian Youth Team to the ANC. Smaller sums could be used to boost prize money at State Events – this would encourage greater participation in them from people all around the state. You could choose to sponsor an event, either in your own name or in the name of a loved one. You can specify where you would like your donation or bequest to be directed, or you could leave it to the management Committee to decide – it is up to you.

If you love bridge and would like to make a donation or bequest, any such gift would be greatly appreciated by all TBA members. Feel free to contact any Member of the Committee to discuss this further.

Vaccinations for ABF Gold Masterpoint events

The ABF has issued a Policy Directive that from 2022, all participants in ABF Gold Masterpoint events will have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless there are unique prevailing circumstances. This Directive will apply to the 2022 Tasmanian Festival of Bridge to be held in Launceston in March 2022.

Individual Bridge – First Sunday of the Month

The TBA has been looking to utilise our Sunday Sessions in more interesting ways than just normal duplicate sessions. We have established the “Sunday Swiss” on the last Sunday of the month, “Social Sundays” on the second Sunday of the month, and now we have pleasure in announcing an “Individual” movement on the first Sunday of the month, commencing November 7th. An individual movement is where you switch partners after each round. It is a good event for people without a regular partner to be able to just turn up for a fun session of bridge. Because of some constrains on individual movements, seating will be strictly limited and bookings essential (on the TBA booking system).

A Tribute to Valerie Palk

A session of bridge will be held on Wednesday October 20th at 10.00am in honour of Valerie Palk. Valerie is a former President of the TBA and has also served bridge in various capacities all around Tasmania. The TBA Committee will recommend nomination of Valerie for Life membership at the next AGM.

TBA (Non) Bridge Fun Night

Sue Falkingham is organising a bridge related but non playing Fun Night on Saturday October 2nd from 7.30pm to 10.00pm. The night will consist of a series of quizzes and challenges and members are asked to make up a table of four. Tables are encouraged to bring their own snacks and drinks. Come on your own, or bring that non playing life partner who wonders what you are doing all those hours every week! Julie Rhodes President, TBA September 2021